Approximately 30 law enforcement officers from the MARMET/METRICH Drug Task Force, the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, and the Marion Police Department searched Tuesday for nearly 50 people wanted for involvement in the Illegal drug trade in Marion County. By the end of the day, 32 people had been arrested and 14 remained at large.
Officials say the search was the culmination of a six month investigation into the illegal sales of drugs in the city and county of Marion. Since January 1, 2013, investigators made controlled drug purchases from the suspects they were seeking on Tuesday, August 27. Heroin, crack cocaine, and prescription medication were the main drugs bought during these controlled purchases.
On August 21, 2013, Marion County Prosecutor Brent Yager conducted a special grand jury to hear and to decide on the indictments from this investigation. Officials say hundreds of hours were spent by law enforcement and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office in preparation for this day.
At approximately 9:00am Tuesday, five arrest teams fanned out across the city and county to search for those wanted on drug trafficking charges, according to Major Bill Collins, Commander of the MARMET/METRICH Drug Task Force. Nearly all of the issued warrants are for mid- to street-level dealers of various types of illegal drugs. All arrests were taken to the Marion Police Department for processing. From there, they were then transported to the Multi-County Correctional Center.
All of the suspects arrested Tuesday will be arraigned in Marion Municipal Court on August 28, 2013.
To view a complete list of those arrested and still sought, click here. This file will be updated as new information is made available.
“At the beginning of the year, we promised the citizens of Marion we would remain vigilant in our efforts to seek out and to stem the tide of illegal drug sales in Marion. This is an answer to that promise,” stated Major Collins. “This operation will certainly have a positive impact to the availability of illegal drugs in our community.”
Major Collins also noted, “Our operation has been dubbed Revolving Door, as over 90% of those being arrested have had prior drug related convictions.”
Major Collins encourages the citizens of Marion to continue to be the eyes and ears of the community and said that many of the cases developed were a direct result of tips left on the Marion Tips Line.
Residents can continue to report suspected drug dealers in their neighborhoods by calling 740-375-TIPS (8477).
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